Cover: The Northern shore of Medicine Lake in Jasper National Park
At nearly four miles long, Medicine Lake is not really “a lake” at all but a much studied geological anomaly. The Maligne River which flows from Maligne Lake to the Athabasca Valley collects as a large pool at Medicine Lake and then disappears suddenly below ground into one of the most extensive underground river systems in the world. During the summer, the “lake” swells with glacial and snow run-off and then recedes to a shallow frozen river during the winter. It also becomes a popular crossing point to traverse the Maligne river for larger animals such as Caribou.
January: Moraine Lake in Banff National Park
In the Valley of the Ten Peaks and approximately nine miles from the popular resort of Lake Louise sits the iconic setting of Moraine Lake. Glacially fed, the lake reaches its crest in June and turns a beautiful shade of sapphire blue. This colouration is due to light refracting off suspended “rock flour” that is continually being deposited in the lake. Complimented by steep moraines and its towering peaks, this is certainly one of Canada’s most beautiful and dramatic lake settings.
January: Icebergs in Cavell Pond below Mount Edith Cavell
Nestled below the famous and most impressive Angel Glacier sits Cavell Pond. Frozen for most of the year, the pond thaws during the summer to reveal crystal blue waters and a scattering of small icebergs. During the thaw, Angel Gacier frequently sheds large chunks of ice (some the size of houses) that crash a thousand feet to the ground creating thunderous sounds that echo through the valley.
February: Alpine Stream at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park
Delicate alpine streams fed by snow melt crisscross the meadows at Logan Pass. Tiny wild flowers of all shapes and colours pepper the area like small jewels amongst the lush green grasses and vegetation. Whilst photographing these streams one evening, I was blessed by a visit from a family of mountain goats (see April Icon) that although wary, seemed relatively unconcerned about my presence. Once they realised that I was not a threat to them even the very young came within touching distance of where I was sitting.
February: Silverleaf Phacelia nestled in Billion year old rock fragments
This small unassuming scene has actually great significance. The purple rock fragments (Grinnell Argillite) and green fragments (Appekunny Argillite) are ancient mudstones from sedimentary deposits accumulated well over a billion years ago that have been thrust to the surface by Glacier National Parks famous geological history. I found these fragments within yards of St. Mary Lake, modestly scattered on the surface and with of course, a beautiful Silverleaf Phacelia plant nestled amongst them.
March: St. Mary Lake at Dusk in Glacier National Park
At nearly 10 miles long, 300 feet deep and 4,484 feet above sea level, the waters of Glacier National Park’s famous St. Mary Lake rarely rise in temperature to above 10 degrees centigrade. During the winter the lake freezes over with ice up to four feet thick. This image was taken in September at dusk and shot to silhouette the towering mountains that surround the lake and highlight Wild Goose Island at the centre.
March: Wild Goose Island in St. Mary Lake, Glacier National Park
Near the Western end of St. Mary Lake sits charismatic Wild Goose Island. Its name is derived from an old legend that merits some attention here. Two lovers from separate Indian Tribes met there by accident and started their liaison. They continued to meet secretly but in defiance of their elders. Under pressure, they eloped one day back to the island but were furiously sought by both tribes. The “Great Spirit” took pity on the couple and transformed them into two beautiful wild geese so that they could escape their pursuers.... and so the story goes
April: Looking South along the shores of Upper Waterton Lake
With over 200 square miles of rugged mountains and wilderness area, Waterton Lakes National Park sits in the South West corner of Alberta and adjoins Glacier National Park in Montana. A haven for wildlife, the park is internationally famous and a popular place for the nature-minded tourist. This image was shot at dawn from a very windy hillside overlooking the valley
April: Mountain Goat at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park
During the late afternoon, mountain goats descend from an area near Hidden Lake at Logan Pass and cross the alpine meadows, browsing as they walk through the sub-alpine firs to their night-time refuge. Shy and wary animals, Mountain Goats are in fact not goats at all... They are of a different genus and more closely related to antelope than goat. Exceptionally well equipped for alpine conditions, they are excellent climbers and their woolly coats can comfortably withstand temperatures below 50 degrees centigrade and 100 MPH winds
May: Spirit Island on Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park
Of the many places I have visited over the years in North America, this has to be one of the most sublime and memorable. To avoid the rush of the tour boats, I took a slow motorised canoe trip up Maligne Lake and then spent several hours just meditating on the whole scene whilst contemplating the best compositions for my images. As I expressed on the back of the calendar, this area symbolises for me the beauty of the Canadian Rockies but also seems so fragile and vulnerable. It is a poignant reminder, whilst in the presence of beautiful settings such as this, just how important it is to preserve our wonderful planet for future generations to enjoy.
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May: Bighorn Sheep at Medicine Lake in Jasper National Park
Around 750,000 years ago, ancestors of the Big Horn Sheep crossed the Bering land bridge connecting Siberia with North America. Two hundred years ago there were probably around 2 Million animals roaming the Rocky Mountain Chain. By 1900 hunting, disease and competition from domestic sheep reduced this number to just a few thousand. Subsequent conservation efforts helped to protect the remaining animals and a healthy population now thrives in Jasper National Park and throughout the Canadian and American Rockies.
June: Water Sculpture at Avalanche Gorge in Glacier National Park
Set amongst mature old-growth temperate rainforests of Cedar, Western Hemlock and huge Black Cottonwoods, Avalanche Creek cascades its way through Avalanche Gorge. Fuelled by glacial run-offs over thousands of years, the fast flowing water has created a beautifully sculptured path through the dense red mudstone. Lichens, mosses and ferns line the rocks, adding to a colourful and vibrant scene that never fails to captivate the visitor
June: Young Bull Elk by the Athabasca River, Jasper National Park
One of the largest species of deer in the world, Elk are very similar and closely related to the European Red Deer. During the rutting season, the classic bugle calls from mature males can be heard rumbling through the forests. Being rather temperamental, one has to be careful when photographing Elk. I have seen a few cars damaged during roadside encounters and one photographer in particular running for dear life (excuse the pun...) when getting that little bit too close... Young male Elk at this age are perhaps at their most beautiful and elegant.
July: Lake Ohara in Yoho National Park
Hiding away in the wilderness area of Yoho National Park is the gorgeous alpine setting of Lake O’Hara. A pristine and highly protected area of outstanding natural beauty, access is limited to just a handful of visitors each day. Apart from being one of the loveliest places to visit in the whole of the Canadian Rockies, it is also revered as a world-class hiking area with trails passing through alpine meadows dotted with small lakes and surrounded by exquisite mountain scenery. This view taken of Lake O’Hara itself is from a rocky outcrop known as Opabin Prospect.
July: Submerged rock at Horseshoe Lake in Jasper National Park
Less than an hour’s drive from Jasper Town along the famous Icefields Parkway, is located the charming setting of Horseshoe Lake, just a short hike up from the road. A deep lake surrounded by steep cliffs, its colours which range from turquoise blue to emerald green are truly stunning. Adding further perspective to an already impressive scene, a massive boulder sits submerged near the middle of the lake and is visible just below the surface.
August: Patricia Lake exposed by Moonlight - Jasper National Park
Late one evening, I thought I would just take a look at Patricia Lake (close by to where I was staying) and see how it would look under the full moon which was out. The moon’s light was strong enough to subtly illuminate Pyramid Mountain and the shores of the lake and to my delight, the Great Bear constellation was perfectly positioned in the night sky above. It took several long exposures at different settings to capture the scene whilst trying to avoid long “star trails”. It was also a challenge to allow the ambient moonlight to expose the foreground elements whilst maintaining adequate saturation of colours and in particular the deep blue of the night sky.
August: Full moon over Mount Rundle
Early one autumn evening at Vermillion Lakes in Banff National Park, I was packing away my photographic gear after shooting the lakes at sunset. The darkness was suddenly transformed as a bright full moon rose gracefully over Mount Rundle bathing the whole area in a subtle light. The snow on top of the mountain was highlighted too for just a short while before the moon disappeared behind a shroud of dense cloud, returning the scene to darkness once more. Fortunately, I managed to get a couple of images away in the meantime
September: Rearguard Falls on Fraser River near Mount Robson
Fraser River is the longest river in British Columbia which rises near Mount Robson and steers its way through to the Pacific Ocean near Vancouver, some 870 miles away. Significantly, that is the length of the arduous journey that hardy Chinook Salmon have to make in the late summer, on their way back from the Ocean and up Fraser River to their spawning grounds. Most do not make it above the falls and spawn a little way downstream. The blueness of the water is characteristic of mineral rich glacial melt. In this image, autumn colours are just beginning to break through with Aspens turning first.
September: Autumn reflections on Patricia Lake, Jasper National Park
It took several attempts over a number of days to get this image just right. I needed the late evening sun to be diffused through a lightly overcast sky, warming the colours without creating the deep shadows that would have otherwise spoiled the scene (photographically). Patricia lake is a relatively small and shallow lake and often lies still and glass-like, especially early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The autumn colours in this scene are courtesy of Aspens whose leaves turn from green, to yellow, to orange, to falling off the tree in just a few days...
October: Sanson Peak reflections, Vermillion Lakes, Banff National Park
Just outside of Banff Town lie the three Vermillion Lakes in the Bow River Valley near the foot of Mount Norquay. A favourite haunt of photographers, every day seems to present a different scene with varying lighting opportunities and weather conditions. At times, being small shallow lakes, the waters can be quite still and photogenic creating possibilities for reflections and good compositions. Wildlife at the lakes include Bald Eagles. They can often be seen surveying the lakes from lofty perches in the surrounding White Spruces (as shown in the 2008 calendar).
October: Great Blue Heron, Vermillion Lakes, Banff National Park
With a wingspan of over six feet and up to eight pounds in weight, the Great Blue Heron is North America’s largest heron. Technically a wading bird, its long legs help it to fish in deeper waters or further from a lake’s shoreline. It prefers to feed at dawn or dusk when its prey are more vulnerable and less likely to see the predator. Frogs, fish and even small mammals all feature on the heron’s menu.
November: Soft sunset colours on Pyramid Lake, Jasper National Park
Taking an image like this is always a challenge to the photographer. I wanted to expose the sunset colours and their reflections in the lake accurately whilst also using just the right amount of fill-flash to softly light the rocks in the foreground. At the same time it was important to retain silhouettes of the grasses against the reflected sky. Using a wide angled lense the camera was also just a metre away from the rocks making the composition challenging when trying to balance the scale of the foreground with the background... and then of course it was quite dark and the light was changing fast....
November: Autumnal Aspens by Medicine Lake, Jasper National Park
Part of the Willow Family, Quaking Aspens are found throughout the Rocky Mountains. They derive their descriptive name from the way in which their leaves turn and twist freely in the wind, the botanical reasons for which are still not fully understood. Aspens are famous for their fabulous colours during the Fall ranging from golden yellow to bright red. The aspens in this image were located in a field of huge glacial boulders at the Eastern end of the lake.
December: Subalpine firs at Logan Pass, Glacier National Park
It was a dull early morning and raining heavily at the lower elevation of Glacier National Park where I was staying. Then it occurred to me that if it is raining down here, it might be snowing up at Logan Pass, at over 6,500 feet above sea level. I jumped into the car with my camera gear (and thermals) and magically, as I approached the Pass it was being gently dusted with a layer of snow. The sub-alpine firs were only lightly covered and I managed to get several images before the snow started “clumping” on the branches and looking less photogenic. After two hours, the snow hard virtually disappeared as the temperature rose.
December: Frosted flowers at Syeh Creek, Glacier National Park
On a very cold early morning (at around eight degrees below freezing) I noticed a range of shrubs and small flowers that had been frosted over during the night near Syeh Creek. In exposed areas such as mountain passes, taking macro shots (close-ups) of plants can be very difficult due to continual air currents and the wobbly nature of your subject. Even a slight movement under magnification will blur the image. Fortunately, on this particular morning the air was perfectly still. The flowers in this image are Asters and Cinquefoil we believe.